Beef ban end is Christmas come early, says Gill

24 November 1998

Beef ban end is Christmas come early, says Gill

By FWi staff

THE lifting of the ban on British beef exports was described as a “Christmas present” for farmers, said Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers Union.

European Union farm ministers finally lifted their ban on British beef exports yesterday afternoon (Monday) at a Farm Council meeting in Brussels.

Only Germany voted against the move. France, Belgium, Spain and Luxembourg abstained, but 10 other European states backed an end to the ban.

The UK will have to complete a cull of calves born of BSE-infected cattle and obtain EU approval for its exporting facilities, before restarting exports – probably next spring.

But farmers and exporters face an uphill struggle to regain their place in foreign markets. The Meat and Livestock Commission believes Britain will be lucky if beef exports return to 10% of their pre-ban level by the end of next year.

The first beef is not expected to leave Britain much before March next year. EU inspectors will first have to satisfy themselves that abattoirs processing the meat are complying with all the conditions set for the lifting of the ban.

Britain exported 242,000 tonnes of beef worth £518 million in 1995, the last full year before the ban was imposed. The MLC aims to get exports back to something over 20,000 tonnes by the end of next year.